Nautical Studies

Seafaring is the art of doing very technical things safely, under challenging circumstances. Nautical Studies will help you to gain a fundamental understanding of seamanship, and of how professional seafarers think about the problems they face. Students learn the basic principles of seamanship, and how to apply these principles in real situations.

The subject will appeal to those interested in a career in the maritime industries, and to anyone whose work will take them on the water.

Career opportunities

Nautical Studies papers are taught by Captain Graham Turner, a master mariner and qualified educator. He has served most of his career in the New Zealand fishing industry as deckhand, skipper, vessel owner, operations manager, netmaker and rigger. Graham runs Maritime Training Otago and is an MNZ approved examiner for maritime certificates of competency.

NAUT101 - 100-level paper

NAUT101 covers inshore seamanship, law and safety to the level required by the master of inshore fishing and charter vessels. Students undertake two one- day voyages and are expected to be able to manage the second voyage themselves, as a team, while the vessel's crew take it easy.

NAUT 201 - 200-level paper

NAUT201 builds on NAUT101 with a theoretical and critical approach to nautical studies, aimed at giving an understanding of the operation and navigation of ocean-going vessels, taking into consideration construction, equipment, manoeuvrability and prevailing weather patterns.